Pressing machine



Feb. 2, 1937. A. F. HANNEY 2,059,439 7 PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12., 1955 i FIG.=1

FIG.

INVENTOR ANGUS E HANNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Application January 12, 1935, Serial No. 1,451

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type used in laundry and garment work,

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a pressing machine. of the scissors type in 5 which the head is carried by a lever into and out of coacting position with a bed member, power means for moving the head to closed position, and

a connecting linkage between the power means and the head lever designed to move the head to 10 closed position with great rapidity and with relatively little motion of the power means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a press of the scissors type a bed movable vertically in the pressing machine frame and one 15 power means having novel operative connections for first moving the head to coasting position adjacent the bed and holding it there, and a second operative connection by which the power means raises the bed into final pressure engagement with the head for an ironing operation.

My improved mechanism further provides, in a press of the scissors type in which the head lever is moved to close the press by means of toggle links, a motor and an operative connection between the motor and the toggle links for moving the latter toward straightened position and holding them there by a novel cam and follower connection.

Other objects and advantages include suitable structure for accomplishing the above named objects and purposes as will more clearly appear from the accompanying drawing and the specification and the essential features will be summarized in the claims. 35 In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a pressing machine embodying my invention with the parts in open position; while Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same machine with the parts in closed position; Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modification.

In the embodiment illustrated, on a frame I is mounted a bed H which is supported for vertical movement relative to the frame, the struc- 45 ture shown comprising a sleeve l2 rigid with the frame and a sleeve i3 rigid with the bed and adapted to engage the sleeve l2 and slide thereon. A pressure pin 14 is provided within the bore of sleeve l2 having a loose connection with the co bed'member l l and the sleeve 13 connected therewith so that upon raising of the pin M the bed may be lifted relative to the frame. A head lever I5 is pivotally on the frame at l6 and carries a head i! which is thus movable into and I out of coacting position adjacent the bed,

For thus moving the head I provide a pair of toggle links comprising an upper shorter link l8 and a lower longer link l9 pivotally connected together at a knuckle 20. The upper link is pivotally connected at 2| with the head lever and the 5 lower link oscillates about a pivotal connection 22 on the frame. A spring 23 is connected between the toggles and a point on the frame for biasing the toggles toward'open position which maintains the head in the position shown in Fig. 1. 'For 10 moving the links toward straightened position to close the head upon the bed I have provided a novel linkage arrangement which greatly multiplies the motion supplied by whatever motive power may be provided sothat a very slight movement of the. source of motive power is greatly multiplied by the time the latter is transmitted to the head, thus closing the head very rapidly and with very slight initial movement of the source of motive power. This novel linkage comprises a power lever 24 pivotally mounted on the frame at'25 and having a free end 26 adapted to engage link 19 of the toggle to swing the latter toward straightened position.

The operative connection between lever 24 and link [9 is preferably cam and follower members, those shown comprising a follower roller 21 carried by the toggle link and a cam surface carried by lever 24, this cam surface having an active portion 28 and a dwell portion 29, the latter being 30 concentric with the pivot 25. The position of the follower 21 on the toggle link is such as to provide a turning moment of the link [9 about the pivot 22 as by means of the short arm 30. While I have shown this arm 30 formed integral .35 with link I 9 it will readily be perceived that such a structure is in all respects equivalent to a separate crank arm located in the position of arm 30 and rigid with shaft 22, providing link l9 were rigid with the same shaft. I thus provide a great '40 multiplication of movement which is measured by the ratio between arm 2'l22 and arm 2022-- the particular multiplication shown amounting to over four to one. From the particular construction used, as lever 24 moves in a clockwise direction, follower 21 will move along the active .portion 28 of the surface until it passes the heel 3d of the cam and thereafter the dwell portion 29 of the cam will hold link IS in its actuated position so that any tendency of link l9 to move in a clockwise direction will be resisted by lever 24 acting as a strut.

The above described novel head lever actuating linkage is useful regardless of the motive power used for operating the press; In the present instance I provide a fluid actuated motor 32 which in this special instance is adapted to act in a vertical direction. The motor comprises a cylinder 33, suitably mounted rigidly in the frame l0, and a piston 34 having a piston rod 35 which is supplied with a yoke 36. The yoke is guided by the piston rod and by pins 31 mounted in suitable bores in the plate 38. The piston rod or yoke is provided with a boss 39 which is adapted to engage the pressure pin [4 for lifting the bed. The yoke also is provided at its lower side with an operative connection for moving lever 24 which in the present instance comprises a link 40 pivotally connected to the yoke and to the power lever. There is sufiicient clearance between the pressure pin and the bed to permit the linkage to move the head to closed position adjacent the bed before the piston or yoke engages the pressure pin to lift the bed.

It will be noticed that the connection between link 40 and lever 24 at the pivot 4| is such as to provide a power lever of the third order. The multiplication of movement provided by lever 24 is substantially four to one, that is, the movement of the free end 26 is substantially four times the movement of pivot 4|. Inasmuch as the mechanical advantage provided by the head lever is substantially one to two, it results from the arrangement shown that the movement at the point 4| upon a power stroke of the motor is multiplied over thirty times in the movement of the head. This arrangement of two operatively connected levers of the third order is very advantageous as it is the best means known to me for utilizing the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the frame In to the best advantage to secure rapid motion of the head.

Motive fluid is supplied to motor 32 through a combined inlet and exhaust conduit 42 which is provided with suitable control means. I have illustrated a simple valve at 43 which will be understood to be diagrammatic only, as suitable control arrangements of control manuals convenient to the operator are well known in this art.

It is thought the operation of the press will be understood from the above, but the same will be briefly summarized as follows:

With the head in its open position as shown in Fig. 1, the operator arranges the lay of the work upon the bed l2 and actuates the control means 43 to admit fluid beneath piston 34. This piston through the yoke and link 40 moves power lever 24 clockwise until follower 21 has passed heel 3| of the cam at which time the links !8 and I9 will have been moved almost to straightened position as shown in Fig. 2 and the head will be adjacent to bed H and either out of contact therewith or in light contact. It will be obvious as shown in Fig. 2 that the links l8 and I9 close the press when short of straightened position and an abutment ID on the frame insures against breakage of the links toward the left upon the application of pressure between the pressing members. Preferably before follower 21 has passed heel 3| of the cam on lever 24, boss 39 on the yoke has raised pressure pin l4 into engagement with bed H or a pedestal connected therewith and after follower 21 passes heel 3| further movement of piston 34 causes boss 39 on the yoke to raise the bed into pressure engagement with the head. During this final portion of the power stroke cam portion 29 on lever 24 preferably causes no further motion of the toggle links and, this. cam portion ma closed, the toggles l8 and !9 have passed slightly beyond straightened position, but any tendency of the toggles to break rearwardly during the application of final pressure will be resisted by shoulders l3 and IS on the respective links.

I am thus able to utilize a cylinder and pis' ton motor having a piston of large area for producing the required pressure for the final ironing action, while at the same time I am enabled to use a small portion of the power stroke of this same piston to close the head with a consequent saving of motive fluid because of the small mechanical advantage of the linkage between the motor and the head lever.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted upon the frame and having a downwardly extending stem by which it is movable Vertically relative to said frame, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement to and from coacting position adjacent said bed, a vertically acting cylinder and piston motor mounted on the frame beneath said bed with its piston rod aligned with said stem,

operative connections between said motor and said head lever whereby to move said head to coacting position adjacent the bed, and said piston rod of said motor having sufficient stroke for engaging said stem to raise said bed into engagement with said head.

2. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted upon the frame and movable vertically relative thereto, a vertical pin for lifting said bed, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement to and from coacting position adjacent said bed, a vertically acting cylinder and piston motor mounted on the frame beneath said bed with its piston rod aligned with said pin, operative connections between said motor and said head lever whereby to move said head to coacting position adjacent the bed, and said piston rod of said motor having a stroke sufiicient for raising said bed into engagement with said head, there being lost motion between said piston rod and said stem adapted to be taken up during movement of said motor to move said head to coacting position.

3. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted upon the frame and movable vertically relative thereto, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement to and from coacting position adjacent said bed, a single-acting cylinder and piston motor mounted on the frame, an operative connection between said motor and head lever whereby to move said head to coacting position adjacent said bed during the first portion of a power stroke of said motor, said operative connection having a mechanical advantage of the order of 1 to 16, and said motor having a direct connection without mechanical advantage for raising said bed into engagement with said head during a later portion of said power stroke, said direct connection having a lost motion adapted iii) to be taken up when the head is moved to coacting position.

l. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted on the frame, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement into and out of position for coaction with said bed, a power lever of the third order pivotally mounted on the frame, a motion transmitting lever of the third order pivotally mounted on the frame, an operative connection between the last named lever and the head lever, a cam and follower connection between said power lever and motion transmitting lever for moving the latter about its pivot in head closing direction, power means, and an operative connection between said power means and said power lever for moving the latter.

5. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement into and out of coacting position adjacent the bed, a power lever of the third order pivotally mounted on the frame, a motion transmitting lever of the third order pivotally mounted on the frame, an operative connection between the last named lever and the head lever, a cam and follower connection between said power lever and motion transmitting lever for moving the latter about its pivot in head closing direction, a vertically acting cylinder and piston motor on said frame beneath said bed, said motor having its piston rod vertically alined beneath said bed for lifting said bed into pressure engagement with said head, and an operative connection between said motor and said power lever for moving the latter.

6. A pressing machine as in claim 5, and in which said piston rod has a lost motion connection with said bed which is taken up during movement of the power lever by said motor, and said cam has an active portion for moving said motion transmitting lever to position said head adjacent said bed and a dwell portion for thereafter holding the parts in said position.

7. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted on the frame, a head lever pivotally mounted on the upper rear portion of said frame, a head carried by said lever for movement into and out of position for coaction with said bed, a power lever pivotally mounted on the lower forward portion of said frame and extending rearwardly, a motion transmitting lever pivotally mounted on the lower rear portion of said frame and extending upwardly, an operative connection between the upper end of said last named lever and the head lever, said power lever having an operative connection with said motion transmitting lever for moving the latter about its pivot in head closing direction, power means on the frame beneath the bed, and an operative connection between said power means and said power lever for moving the latter.

8. In a pressing machine having a frame and a bed mounted thereon, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, ahead carried by said lever for movement into and out of coacting position with saidbed, a toggle pivotally connected between said head lever and said frame for moving said lever, a power lever pivotally mounted on said frame and extending toward said toggle, the free end of said power lever and said toggle having coacting cam and follower portions, said porticns being arranged to move said toggle to short-of-straightened position as said power said toggle to break toward said power lever, a

fluid actuated motor in said frame, and an operative connection between said motor and power lever for oscillating the latter in toggle straightening direction, said cam and follower portions being arranged to retain said toggle in said short-of-straightened position.

9. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement into and out of coacting position adjacent said bed, a toggle pivotally connected between said head lever and said frame for moving said lever, said toggle comprising an upper and lower link, a power lever pivotally mounted on said frame and extending toward said toggle, the free end of said power lever and said lower toggle link adjacent its pivot having coacting cam and follower portions, said portions being arranged to substantially straighten said toggle as said power lever is oscillated about its pivot, means biasing said lower toggle link toward said power lever, a fluid actuated motor in said frame, an operative connection between /said motor and power lever for oscillating the latter in toggle straightening direction, said cam and follower portions being arranged for retaining said toggle in substantially straightened position while the power lever continues to move, and a second operative connection between said motor and said bed for raising the latter into pressing engagement with said head when the latter is held in the retained position.

10. In a pressing machine having a frame and a bed mounted thereon, a head lever pivotally mounted on the frame, a head carried by said lever for movement into and out of coacting position with said bed, a toggle pivotally connected between said head lever and said frame for moving said lever, said toggle comprising a shorter upper link and a longer lower link, a power lever pivotally mounted in said frame and extending toward said toggle, said lower toggle link having a part movable therewith and having a short crank arm about the lower toggle pivot, the free end of said power lever and said part having coacting cam and follower portions, said portions being arranged to move said toggle to short-ofi straightened position as said power lever is oscillated about its pivot and to hold them there, means biasing said lower toggle link toward said power lever, a fluid actuated motor in said frame, and an operative connection between said motor and power lever for oscillating the latter in toggle straightening direction.

11. In a pressing machine, a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, a vertical pin for lifting said bed, a head lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the frame, a head carried on the forward end of said lever for movement into and out of coacting position adjacent said bed, a toggle pivotally connected between the rear end of said head lever and said frame for moving said lever, a power lever pivotally mounted in the lower forward portion of said frame and extending rearwardly toward. said toggle, the free end of said power lever and said lower toggle link adjacent its pivot having coacting cam and follower portions, said portions being arranged to substantially straighten said toggle as said power lever is oscillated about its pivot and to hold them there, means biasing said lower toggle link toward said power lever, a fluid actuated cylinder and piston motor in said frame and adapted to make a power stroke vertically upward, a yoke carried by the piston rod of said motor, an operative connection between said yoke and power lever intermediate the ends of the latter for oscillating said power lever in toggle straightening direction, and a second operative connection between said yoke and said pin for raising said bed into pressing engagement with said head when the latter is held in coacting position.

ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

